Cardinals fire Mike Shildt due to 'philosophical differences'

Mike Shildt Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals fire Mike Shildt as manager due to 'philosophical differences'

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/14/21

The St. Louis Cardinals shocked the MLB community by winning 17 consecutive games in September to earn a National League wild-card playoff berth but ultimately fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in that game.

That defeat was apparently enough for the Cardinals to go in a different direction.

Per the MLB website and ESPN/Associated Press, the Cardinals fired manager Mike Shildt on Thursday.

"While these decisions are difficult, both parties agreed that philosophical differences related to the direction of the organization brought us to this conclusion," St. Louis president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said in a prepared statement. "With just one year remaining on Mike’s contract, it was in everyone’s best interests that we address this now."

Shildt put pen to paper on a three-year agreement in 2019.

The Cardinals requested permission to make this announcement today even though the Giants and Dodgers are playing Game 5. That shows how important it was for St. Louis to get this done and move forward.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) October 14, 2021

For those wondering if Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa could return to the Cardinals, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports it's not happening:

Meanwhile, in Chicago, Tony LaRussa is definitely returning to the #WhiteSox. So, no, he’s not going to the #STLCards
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 14, 2021

Shildt first accepted the Cardinals job when he took over for Mike Matheny during the 2018 season and accumulated an overall record of 252-199. He guided St. Louis to three consecutive postseason appearances and won NL Manager of the Year honors for 2019, and logic suggests the 53-year-old will be a hot commodity among teams needing managers this fall.